Fight Your Battles

You are meant to fight your own battles.

 

The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, his protégé, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Paul used the letter “I” three times in that statement. That means, he wasn’t referring to a group fight. But the personal struggles he had to go through in life. Clearly, Paul wasn’t the kind of Christian who ran away from his problems. Though he experienced a lot of travails, He fought really hard and eventually won every battle that the enemy brought his way. Isn’t it interesting that even though he was highly talented and anointed, life still hit him hard with challenges?

I don’t know what you are currently go through. Whatever it is, realize that your personal battles won’t go away until you fight to a standstill. Keep fighting.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

It’s Up to You

 

Your mind is in your hands.

 

There are Christians who wouldn’t mind to ask Jesus to do everything for them. Instead of serving Him, they would rather have Jesus serve them. Each morning, they would expect Jesus to wake them up and then drag them out of bed and tell them what to do.

If that is what is expected of Christ, then why did He say to His disciples, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

If it is His job to do EVERYTHING for us, why did He give us the key? The very act of giving us the key suggests we are all expected to take charge over life’s challenges. You have a powerful mind inside of you. Use it.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

The Power of a Focused Mind

A double-minded person cannot win a battle.

Believe it or not, your mind plays an important role in any kind of battle. A double-minded person cannot win a battle.

When Moses gave his farewell address in the book of Deuteronomy, he said, “The officers shall say to the army: Has anyone built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it” (Deuteronomy 20:5). Why did he say that? Moses knew that if a soldier goes into a battle with thoughts of an unfinished project in his mind, he will be unable to face the enemy at the same time.

To overcome adversity, your mind needs to be focused, even if it seems there’s no hope. And every battle begins in the mind. Your mind actually determines the direction of your mental and physical strength. 

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Change Your Mind

 

Nothing changes until you change your thoughts.

 

In the parable of the lost son, Jesus shared a story of a man who had two sons. The younger one demanded for his share of inheritance and left home. After he had spent everything on reckless living, an economic recession hit his country. To survive, he had to work in a farm where he was assigned to feed pigs.

This went on until one fateful day when he suddenly realized that while he was starving to death, the servants in his father’s house had food to spare. So, he got up and returned to his father, who restored his position in the family.

In Luke’s account of this story, you would notice that the son didn’t arrive at that decision until “he came to his senses” (Luke 15:11-32 - NIV). This story illustrates the power of the mind. Nothing changes until you change your thoughts.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

God’s Mind – Part Two

 

Change your mind on that matter.

 

I have heard people say, “I won’t change my mind.” You hear that often whenever a person refuses to forgive. For such people, being tough means, they have to be unchangeable and rigid. So, they never change their minds and attitude towards their offenders. That kind of attitude is ungodly.

In case, you still think God doesn’t change His mind; recall what transpired between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. The woman begged Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. Initially, Jesus didn’t want to do it. But when He saw the woman’s faith, He changed His mind.

The Psalmist says, “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Because our God is compassionate and merciful, He forgives (Psalm 145:8).

Change your mind on that matter!

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

God’s Mind – Part One

Do you act like God?

 

Does God change His mind? While there are Christians who believe that God changes His mind, there are those who disagree. Remarkably, each of this group backup their claims with Scriptures.

Interestingly, each of these contrasting positions is correct but then, they are often quoted out of context.

Anytime the Bible mentions God’s unchanged mind, it refers to His integrity or nature. God is by nature, unchangeable. Unlike man, God doesn’t mature or grow. Also, because of His integrity, God does not break a promise. It was based on this context that Balaam affirmed God’s unchangeable character. (Exodus 32:1-14; Hebrews 7:21-22)

 But when it comes to empathy and forgiveness, God changes His mind (Jonah 3:10).

 Do you act like God?

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Sarah’s Intentions

 

As you walk with God, some of your closest allies might mislead you.

 

When Sarah asked Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, she actually thought it would solve their problem. Sarah’s suggestion was a sincere plan, intended to help her and Abraham fulfill their dream (Genesis 16:2).

Apparently, Sarah couldn’t have had the kind of faith Abraham had because she wasn’t the one who held the vision. If God had showed Sarah the same thing, He showed Abraham she wouldn’t have doubted.

In your walk with God, you might encounter people who would play the same role as Sarah. They are often the closest to you. Because they have ties with you, whatever vision God lays on you will affect them. These people may not understand God’s plan for you. So, forgive them if they give the wrong advice.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Wait!

 

When things don’t work out as we expect, we allow other people’s opinion to get in the way.

 

When God told Abraham that he would be a father of many nations, He backed up His promise with a covenant (Genesis 15:8-9). Normally, Abraham should have gone to sleep thereafter. But he didn’t.

By having a child with Hagar, Abraham meddled with the agreement. One could say that Abraham’s decision to have a child with Hagar was an attempt to help God fulfill His word. Although their strategy bore Ishmael, it backfired.

Interestingly, we are like Abraham. Oftentimes, we begin our journey with God, with high hopes and commitment. But when things don’t work out as we expect, we allow doubt and other people’s opinion to get in the way.  Wait on God!

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

The Ishmael “Strategy”

If you’ve ever waited on God, you would understand what Abraham went through.

 

After God reassured Abraham that he would have a son, “Abraham believed the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). But despite Abraham’s faith, the child didn’t come as he grew older.

So, when Abraham’s wife came up with the idea that Abraham should sleep with her maidservant so they can build a dynasty through her, Abraham fell for it. At that time, Abraham was not only concerned with having a son that would inherit his wealth; he also wanted to build a family.

Although the idea came from Sarah, the decision was taken by Abraham. What Abraham did is what usually happens when we let others get in the way of our divine assignment. Stay focused!

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Backup Strategy

 

Are you trusting God and at the same time worried?

 

God had said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Although Abraham heeded God’s call, He didn’t do exactly what God asked him to do because Lot, his nephew went with him (Genesis 13:1-18; Genesis 15:3).

Recall that when God called Abraham, he didn’t have a child of his own. So, he didn’t have an heir even though he was wealthy. Maybe, Abraham took Lot along because he needed to feel safe that his wealth would at least go to his nephew if he eventually died without a child. 

Obviously, Lot had been Abraham’s back up plan - a strategy intended to make him feel secure. But in the end, it turned out to be pointless.

 Are you trusting God and at the same time worried that He might fail you?

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Unlike his father

 

God will not ask you to do something that will not succeed in the end.

 

Terah, Abraham’s father had initially desired to stay in Canaan. The Bible didn’t tell us that he got that idea from God. On the other hand, Abraham’s decision to move to Canaan was inspired by God (Genesis 12:4-9).

Possibly, if God was the one who asked Terah to move to Canaan, Terah wouldn’t ended his journey in Haran even if he encountered challenges.  Although Abraham faced obstacles along the way, unlike his father, he never gave up because he was following God’s instructions.

If God is asking you to fulfill an assignment, know that He would see you through. God will not ask you to do something that will not succeed in the end. Fear not!

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Motivation is Key

If God is asking you to embark on a journey with Him, comply.

 

When God called Abraham, He said to him, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Abraham had to leave his country. But he was consoled by God’s promises. God had chosen him to be the father of many nations, even though he had no child at the time.

God is aware of your needs. If He is asking you to embark on a journey with Him, comply even if it means losing everything you currently have.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

By Faith

Whatever God tells you to do, do it in faith.

When God asked Abraham to leave his country and his father’s household to a land, He would show him, Abraham obeyed. He complied even though he was already doing well in Haran (Genesis 12:4-5).

Oftentimes, God would visit you when you are comfortable, at a time you are not expecting Him. So, His “call” may seem strange because you would wonder why He is disrupting your peace. You might even be tempted to think the revelation is just a figment of your imagination.

 Whatever God tells you to do, do it in faith.

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Move!

 

It’s time to do what God wants you to do.

 

God said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1-4).  And Abraham left. We don’t know how long it took Abraham before he obeyed God’s instructions. But we know that when Abraham got that message, he obeyed.

Possibly like Abraham, you’ve had an encounter with God but then have been in your comfort zone, wondering whether to obey the call or not. You’ve been sitting in that room, thinking you can’t go beyond the limits that others have set for you. It’s time to do what God wants you to do. Move!

 

Written by Ben Dankaka

Beyond Limits

God’s plan might be different from your father’s plans for you.

 

Do you know that Abraham’s father had intended to live in Canaan? (Genesis 11:27-32). But instead of getting to his destination, Terah settled in Haran and died there, leaving behind his family.

Interestingly, Abraham didn’t try to live Haran until God called him. Possibly, after his father’s death, Abraham had decided to remain in Haran. Abraham might have decided to sustain his father’s legacy. Initially, Abraham didn’t try to go beyond his father’s limits. But when God met him, everything changed.

I don’t know what you are going through at the moment. Perhaps, like Abraham, you are trying to be like your father. I want you to know that God’s plan might be different from your father’s plans for you.

Written by Ben Dankaka